Last chance to register for Lead Expectantly

This is your last chance to register! Join us for Lead Expectantly—the fall leadership event.  Come learn about “out of the box’’ innovations to lead in your church and community.  Please register by clicking here. The event will be held at Pierre First UMC, 117 N Central, Pierre SD 57501, beginning with opening worship on Friday, September 22 at 1:30 p.m. and will conclude with closing worship at 11:15 a.m. on Saturday, September 23.

Conversations on A Way Forward—first gathering is Sept. 23

An invitation from Bishop Ough: This fall (September – November), I will be hosting 15 regional conversations across the Dakotas-Minnesota Area regarding the Commission’s work. I am eager to keep you informed about their deliberations and progress and, more significantly, to gather your thoughts about a way forward. I am interested, among other things, to engage in dialogue about how you see The United Methodist Church remaining united in the presence of significant cultural, regional and theological differences. Click here for details.

Exploration 2017—invite someone

Do you know a young adult who is considering a call to ministry?  EXPLORATION is a three-day event for young adults age 18-26 to hear, discern, and respond to God’s call to ordained ministry and to explore their gifts for service as a deacon or elder in The United Methodist Church.  It will be held November 3-5, 2017 in Portland, Oregon.  The Dakotas Conference will be sponsoring a group of young adults. 

If you know of someone that would be a good fit, let the Office of Leadership Development know by e-mail or by calling 605-990-7796.   Click here for more information.

Online auction for hunger

In 2016, we had the first online quilt auction.  We have planned another online auction with quilts, gift packages (like weekend getaways), woodworking items, handcrafted items, October 1-8, 2017. It is time to recruit people to bid and buy so that we can raise funds to stop hunger. If you have questions, contact JoAnn Schlimgen via e-mail here, or call (605) 990-7787. Proceeds from the auction will support Dakotas Conference hunger projects, UMCOR and global hunger projects.

Fall festival and Voas cabin dedication

Join us Sautrday, October 7 from 2-6 p.m., at Lake Poinsett Camp and Retreat Center for the fall festival and the dedication of the Voas cabin.  The dedication will take place at 3 p.m.  There will be s’mores, pumpkin decorating, tours and more.  Please RSVP to Lake Poinsett or call 605-983-5577.  Lodging is available if you would like to spend the night.

UMCOR kit collection

Moving vans will be available at several locations (listed below) to accept your boxes of UMCOR kits.

UMCOR Kits can also be brought to the Conference Office in Mitchell by Sept. 29 and also to the Prairie Hills West Mission Event at Sturgis UMC on Oct. 1. If you have questions, contact JoAnn Schlimgen via e-mail HERE, or call (605) 990-7787.

Fall mission events

The 2017 mission season kicked off on Saturday, September 16th at Southeast Pierre UMC with the Mission Fair, continues on Sept. 30th at Southern Hills UMC (Sioux Falls) with the Mission Cafe and Bakery, and wraps up on October 1 with Southwest District at Sturgis UMC.

Called t-shirts

Several people have inquired about the CALLED one word, many ways t-shirts that were available at the 2017 Annual Conference in Bismarck, ND. The Leadership Development office has information on ordering these t-shirts for your local church. Contact Taya Swanson by e-mail or call 605-990-7796 for details. 

Finance and stewardship workshops

The Dakotas Council of Finance & Administration, Dakotas United Methodist Foundation, and Sioux Falls First United Methodist Church invite you to attend a training at: Fargo First UMC, September 30; Rapid City South Maple UMC, October 19 and the Dakotas Conference Office in Mitchell, November 2. The training begins at 9 am and concludes by 1 pm. Lunch will be provided.  Topics included are: raising up generous givers, cultivating major donors and church finances in a digital age. This workshop is open to church treasurers and finance committee members as well as anyone interested in giving and stewardship. Lunch is provided.

Please register by emailing the Foundation office or calling 605-990-7790 so we know how many to plan for lunch.

 Dakyouth 17

Have any plans November 10th-12th? If not, come join us at DakYouth 2017 in Aberdeen, SD! DakYouth is an event for both M.S. and H.S. youth throughout the Dakotas United Methodist Conference. This year's theme is grounded in Proverbs 3:6 and will focus primarily on "Direction".
Click here for details

Survey seeks feedback on sexual harassment issues The United Methodist Commission on the Status and Role of Women wants to know what has changed since its 2005 survey of sexual harassment in the church. Clergy and lay members across the denomination are asked to take the 2017 survey, now online, by Oct. 3. Linda Bloom reports. Read story

Take the survey

Local church happenings            

Children's Ministry Coordinator needed—Canyon Lake United Methodist Church, Rapid City, SD is seeking a Children's Ministry Coordinator to lead our ministries with children through 5th grade including Sunday school, Wednesday evening children's program, and our other ministries with children.  25 hours/week. For a job description and an application, please call 605-348–1080; email CLUMC; or stop by 3500 Canyon Lake Dr., Rapid City,  Tuesday-Friday, 8:30-3:30.

Sunday School curriculum and materials available—Montrose UMC has several curriculums and materials available to five away.  Here's what is available:  PowerXpress! This material is  for rotational Sunday school components art, computer, cooking, games, music, science, story, and video.  Titles include: The Good Samaritan,  Christmas Messengers, Creation, Forgiveness, Acceptance, Burning Bush & Other Images of God and Calling the Disciples. Also available is Gospel Light's VBS "SonRock Kids Camp".  Contact Stephanie Smith(605) 363-3975 or email: bpsmith@siouxvalley.net.

lluminating the Word: The Saint John’s Bible in Fargo-Moorhead—The Saint John’s Bible is a monumental undertaking appealing to our understanding of faith, art, and history, and we are so excited to bring it to the Fargo-Moorhead community. October 1 through December 31, 68 original folios of the first illuminated and handwritten Bible will be displayed on the 4th floor gallery of The Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County, The Hjemkomst Center, 202 1st Avenue North, Moorhead, MN 56560.  Click here for details.

Used book sale at Mitchell First— Saturday, October 21 at 10 AM - 2 PM at First United Methodist Church, Mitchell, SD, 310 N Rowley St., Mitchell, SD 57301. Book donations can be dropped off at the Rowley St entrance Mon. thru Fri. in the mornings. If you have a lot of books to pick-up, call the church at (605) 996-7721. Thank you!